School savings and security were points of conflict at the Central Dauphin School Board meeting Monday night.

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The board voted to replace armed state troopers with what the school board is calling highly-trained, unarmed security guards at school events to save money.

The board voted 6-1 to hire AKA Security Services to watch over its basketball and wrestling matches this year and for other events, such as dances, where there are larger gatherings of students.

"These are highly trained security people law enforcement people and they will not be carrying pepper spray or Tasers," Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson said.

Johnson said there have been no cases where armed police officers have had to draw their weapons in her years as a teacher, principal and superintendent.

Changing to a private security service will save the district about $13,000 a year, she said.

The only board member voting against the plan said he has concerns.

"We hear of these incidents across the country where people enter school buildings (and) they're armed, and I just have a genuine concern that we would not have an armed officer in the building," said school board member Brian Faleshock.

Some parents said they were concerned the issue was introduced and passed in one week without hearing from the public.

Long-time district resident Barry Shutt said the board has an armed police officer at its meetings, but not for school events with hundreds of people.

"I think the savings is so minuscule on a $150 million budget that it's not worth the risk of not having an armed policeman at a facility," Shutt said.

Johnson said AKA will take over security immediately and if all goes well, will be granted a contract extension for other seasons including football.

AKA officials left the school board meeting after the vote without commenting on the board's vote.

The company also works with the Trinity School District.

The East Pennsboro School District also has private security, but its employees do carry weapons.